|  Welsh chart toppers The Automatic | | (As published for Bournemouth Daily Echo)
CARDIFF rock group The Automatic played The Old Firestation as part of the uLive university tour.
Support came from Kinkane and Folkstone’s Nick Harrison, who had
earlier been interviewed on Bournemouth University’s NERVE Radio
promoting new single, Something Special.
The Automatic opened with chart hit Raoul, going on to play a number of
tracks from their latest album This Is A Fix, including Magazines, This
Ship and Secret Police.
It seemed that both audience and band were injected with more enthusiam
during songs from their first album, Not Accepted Anywhere, so with
that in mind they played old favourite Recover.
It was closely followed by top 3 hit Monster, but the performance was a
lacking somewhat, in that newest member Paul Mullen didn’t express the
same captivating stage presence of his predecessor.
Ironically, the former keyboardist, Alex Pennie, played a set with his
new punk band Decimals, literally just across the road at iBar.
Lead vocalist Rob Hawkins reminisced with the crowd about their last
appearance in Bournemouth and guitarist Mullen also reflected on time
in the area with former band Yourcodenameis:Milo.
As the evening was drawing to a close, the four-piece surprised the
crowd with their superb rendition of Usher’s Love In This Club, which
recently featured on Radio 1’s Live Lounge.
The Automatic wisely saved the best ‘til last, in the form of their current A-List single Steve McQueen.
Allana Cutter | |